Do you know if you’re receiving that gift this Christmas that you hinted about. . .the one gift you’re believing for? Perhaps, it’s that one gift you bought yourself.

I was going to wait until the end of the call to share what I know is my favorite Christmas gift this year.

No, it’s not an Audi A8 thought that would be a HUGE BLESSING. It’s not a trip to Bora Bora though I would LOVE that. It’s not a cruise for our 43rd wedding anniversary on March 4th thought that we be FABULOUS.

It’s not even more time with our daughters who live in Los Angeles or our sons our grand sugars who live in Fort Worth. . .though that would be priceless.

My favorite gift this Christmas. . .every other Christmas. . .in fact, every day of the year is found in Ecclesiastes 5:19 in the New Living Translation which says:

“And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.”

Now that’s what you call a Christmas gift to remember.

As soon as we finish this call today we’re leaving for the airport to pick up our Xan, our Babygirl.

This will be the first Christmas we don’t also have our son Jamie, our Abby and her husband. . .our son-in-love Chris with us. . .but we hope to see all of them soon. Unfortunately, we also won’t see our son Jim, his wife Sam and our grandchildren Annabel and Andrew this Christmas.

But PRAISE GOD, we will have the joy of spending Christmas with my parents, Mr. Harold and Ms Annie Ruth. And that is an amazing gift as well.

Christmas for us is always a time of reflection. . .of Christmas’ pasts, days gone by. . .memories created and reflected on year by year.

There is a tendency this time of year to focus on the wrong things. It seems there is entirely too much time and money spent on the gifts we give others, the ones others give us and yet, not enough time spent on the ultimate Gift Giver.

At the center of these memories is just how good God is. He gave the ultimate gift, His only Son, so that you and I could have life, eternal and abundant.

Several years back, our youngest daughter, Xan short for Alexandra…our Babygirl…sat down to write some of the things stirring in her spirit…in fact, I remember the day she wrote what I’m about to share. It touched my heart then…even as it still does this day.

Perhaps because what she wrote is what was stirring in my heart.

Honey, why don’t you read the poem Alex wrote several years ago. Here it is. . .

“Of all the things we children love involving the Christmas season.

There is one activity above them all that gives us a reason.

“The delicious food is appetizing and the lights you can’t ignore.

The tree with its presents is tantalizing and the holly spread across the door.

“But the real miracle the gift of love has surrounded this season for ages.

Rich people poor people, and those middle class buy gifts with their hard-earned wages.

“All for the delight of that one day and one night when we gather together to rejoice. The birth of our Savior, our God, and our King, in exaltation we lift up our voice.

“My favorite Christmas to date would have to be the one already began.

In my favorite home with my favorite people it could not have gone more according to plan.

My grandmother met us with a smile so genuine my heart began to cry.

And my grandfather hugged me in his humbling way that our joy could be seen from the sky.

“Christmas time together we children cherish forever and remember the rest of our days. When we grow older and these memories grow colder and then somehow begin to fade but the traditions we pass down with the love that’s all around make these memories seem to stay.

“So of all of the memories and all the traditions that have been passed down to me through my life

“Baking rolls with my daddy and talking with my Grammy seem to be the highlights I remember in life.

“God gave me a purpose and put me where I am with a specific idea in mind.

“And the family he gave me is perfectly wonderful and it’s true that they’re one of a kind.

“Enjoying this holiday is not hard for any man, woman, youth or child.

Looking at the faces of the ones I love, my heart has done nothing but smiled.

“So thank you for the memories thank you for the love and thank you for the gift of laughter.

“Because when I grow older my memories won’t be colder but will last until the hereafter.

“My children will know all the traditions you showed and will remember the true meaning of the season.

“For in that town of Bethlehem two thousand years ago. This holiday began for one reason.”

Alex wrote those words in just a few minutes. . .it blessed me then and even more so today.

When we return from the airport with our Babygirl. . .we will share a Herring family Christmas breakfast and read the Christmas story.

For those who hear our voices today…who don’t have the benefit of family gathered round. . .you can know that to us. . .you’re family.

But much more than that. . .you’re family to God and He loves you today more than He ever has before.

Not only that. . .He’s thinking about you. . .at this very moment.

Psalm 40:17 in The Living Bible says:

“﻿I am poor and weak, yet the Lord is thinking about me right now!”

Not only that. . .though you may not have a present under the tree this year. . .God has something special planned for you.

Psalm 40:5 in the Contemporary English Version says:

“You, LORD God, have done many wonderful things, and you have planned marvelous things for us. No one is like you! I would never be able to tell all you have done.”

We can also shout because God will never leave or abandon us.

1 Kings 8:57 says:

“The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us.”

But there’s so much more to His promise. . .He is not only with you . . .He’s going to do something else for you.

Jeremiah 32:40 (NLT) will make you shout Hallelujah when there’s nobody else in the house.

“And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me.”

So on this wonderful Christmas Day 2014. . .if there’s no family in the house. . .have an intimate conversation with your Heavenly Father. Time with Him will make this Christmas to remember.

Just as I…as her Father. . .remember the words of my daughter Alex. . .your Heavenly Father will remember and cherish the words you speak to Him on this Christmas day.

After all, your Heavenly Father loved you so much. . .that He sent Jesus so that you can have life. . .eternal and abundant. That's why Christmas. . .is about you.

Now that’s what we call some Rich Thoughts on this Christmas, 2014.

Well, from our home to yours, we wish you a day of fresh and glorious memories.